She continued to be an excellent streamer and all-around very good poker player into 2016 with the potential to hit superstar heights and, possibly, break the Internet with a deep run at the World Series of Poker this year.

If the future of the poker industry is in the hands of such smart, mutti-talented and engaging people – male or female – we’re in good shape for years to come. And anyone who can get the hashtag #shipittomama trending is certainly a force to be reckoned with.

Rainer Kempe - (Germany)

There are so many good (and increasingly great) poker players coming out of Germany these days it’s hard to keep track of them all.

You’ll want keep an eye on Rainer Kempe, however. In less than five years on the circuit Kempe has won nearly $2m in live tournaments including a €25k high roller win for €539k at EPT Prague.

The fact that he even played the $300k buy-in Super High Roller Bowl in Las Vegas this year, let alone that he made the final table, says enough about his talent. Coming from a country of dozens of certifiable crushers it takes a lot for people to take notice. Kempe has done so and more.

Ivan Luca - (Argentina)

Brazil seems to get the lion’s share of attention when it comes to poker in South America but Argentina is producing some incredibly gifted players as well.

Case in point: Ivan "negriin" Luca.

Luca has accumulated $3.2 million in live tournament earnings since he burst on to the poker scene in 2011 and over $2m online. He’s got a WSOP bracelet from 2015 as well as a ton of wins down in Argentina.

In 2016 he had the interesting distinction of beating his own girlfriend heads-up to win a Eureka Main Event in Rozvadov for €106,186. To top it off he finished third in the race for EPT Season 12 Player of the Year.

Not bad for a 24-year-old.

Silje Nilsen - (Norway)

Silje Nilsen is a familiar name to anyone that was at the 2015 PokerListings Battle of Malta.

Nilsen is a delight at the tables and one of the most talkative players you’ll encounter, not to mention very skilled. A sponsorship with Guts Poker shows there are plenty of others who recognize her immense potential in a country obsessed with poker.

Walter Treccarichi - (Italy)

Walter Treccarichi may not be a name that many poker fans are familiar with but that’s likely to change - quickly.

Treccarichi has had numerous scores over the last couple years with side event wins at both the Aussie Millions and this year’s EPT Grand Final, where he won the 2k FPS High Roller.

He’s already up to $1m in live tournament earnings and rising fast, finishing second in the Gold Player of the Year standings for Season 12 of the EPT.

As a name to watch in one of poker's most important markets, Treccarichi's influence could be a big deal very soon.

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